Tauranga City Council is asking people to contact them when they find dead ducks in the city's reserves and waterways.
This comes after recent reports of many dead Muscovy duck sightings in the Royal Palm Beach Estate stormwater reserve at Papamoa.

A Muscovy Duck.

Duck deaths due to natural causes are often seen during this time of year.
Council is keeping track of duck deaths and monitoring water quality.
A water quality sampling test of the Palm Beach stormwater has been done and results are due soon.

This information from Tauranga City Council weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, March 29, published below.

City Waters
Water Supply:
• The Parton Road watermain upgrade is continuing and initial major shutdowns have occurred. Additional shutdowns to complete this work will be notified by letter drop to affected customers.
• The watermain replacements in Pamela Place and Cameron Road are progressing well with Cameron Road being completed this week. Pamela Place is in final reinstatement and due for completion this week.
• The replacement of a pressure reducing valve and installation of a bulk meter is currently underway on Poike Road, due for completion end of March.
• The new Ohauiti High Level water supply reservoir has now entered service.
• Otumoetai Watermain Upgrade – reinstatements in Pillans Road and connecting of mains in Ruston Avenue are continuing.
• Fire hydrant marking and servicing has now been completed.
• Matua watermain upgrade – the main installation in Columba Place has been tested and will be connected this week. Work has started on pipe upgrades in Matua Rd.

Drainage:
• One sewer blockage reported this week was identified as a private local problem: inspection of a stormwater reserve pipe outlet off the Rowesdale development in Ohauiti identified an issue with crossed service connections to two existing houses where the house sewer drains have been connected to the stormwater pipe and vice versa. This is being followed up upon and fixed as a matter of urgency.
• The following stormwater pond cleaning is scheduled to be done over the next month: Bethlehem area below Castlewold and Sterling Gate, Rowesdale area and Carmichael Road.
• Dead trees and branches in the Fraser Street walk access track and drain area below Lloyd Street have been removed and mulched.
• Drain maintenance work in the 3rd Avenue west and Burrows Street areas is also being considered and will require EBOP consent as it is within the coastal marine area. This consent application is being lodged next week.
• CCTV of the sewer off 17th Avenue has been scheduled ahead of proposed earthworks and piping of stormwater drains in the area.
• The sewer pipeline crossing Fraser Street at Courtney Road intersection has been re-laid following the investigation of pipe damage from thrusting of a cable duct.
• Smoke testing of the Fraser Street to Burrows Street trunk sewer in the foreshore area continues through to next week.
• Smoke testing at the Mall near the wastewater pump station is to be done next week as a follow-up to an ongoing odour complaint in the area.
• Some tree work is being carried out in numerous stormwater reserves to ensure safe access for people and council mowing contractors as well as to maintain tree health.
• Work will begin next week to improve the overland flow path capacity at the Harrison Cut outlet from the stormwater ponds adjacent to Kokomo Key and Catalina Key.

Stormwater Pollution:
• The Pollution Team is running the "Pollution Prevention Quiz" over the next month. Answer questions about preventing stormwater pollution and you could be in to win a Marine GPS valued at $850 from Rutherford Marine Electrical. Entries can be made online at www.tauranga.govt.nz or by filling in an entry form at the council front desk, the Tauranga library and also at Rutherford Marine Electrical on Mirrielees Road. The Quiz is run as part of the Sustainability Expo at Bayfair Shopping Centre which takes place from Thursday until Saturday this week.
• City Waters have had a display at The Bayfair Sustainability Expo this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Pop along and learn a bit about Water Pollution and Water Conservation and get other free advice on sustainable living. You can also enter the Pollution Prevention Quiz at the expo.
• Two minor stormwater pollution incidents reported to council this week both involved the discharge of sediment slurry to the stormwater system. In both instances the responsible party was identified and council asked the contractor to clean all material within the kerb and channel and the sump. Contractors carrying out activities that may generate sediment must ensure that controls are in place prior to works commencing to ensure that all discharges are captured prior to discharge to stormwater. Anyone caught causing pollution can face serious fines and/or imprisonment.
• Work continues with service station and wrecker sites within the Tauranga area to improve stormwater pollution practices and ensure recommendations made by council are met following stormwater audits carried out late last year.

Waiari Water Supply Project:
• Two appeals and two interested parties to appeals remain against the resource consents for the construction and operation of a new water intake and treatment plant to serve the Papamoa urban growth area. Tauranga City Council attended an Environment Court mediation on March 16 and signed an agreement in principle with the appellants. Staff are due to meet with the appellants and Environment Bay of Plenty to revise resource consent conditions on 15 April. TCC is due to report back to the Environment Court by April 20.

Bulk Water Meter Installation Project:
• The bulk meter renewal project is under way and will continue until the end of March. The first renewal was undertaken for Mangatawa reservoir meter which is now complete.

Water Demand Management Project:
• A pressure management pilot project has been initiated in the Maungatapu Pressure Zone to reduce leakage. There have been no complaints of low pressures, investigative work will be completed to assess if losses have reduced, and it is planned to further reduce nightflow leakage.

Southern Pipeline:
• Work is continuing on the new 1300m3 wastewater storage tank and pump station site at Maleme Street with the shell of the tank now completed and all works expected to be completed in June 2010.
• The first section of pipeline being between Maleme and Memorial is programmed to be tendered in the second quarter of 2010 with construction starting in the third quarter of 2010.
• Work is continuing on detailed investigation for the Judea Link emergency management option.

Parks and Leisure
• There's a whole lot going on at Memorial Park this Sunday, including the Weet-bix Tryathlon, and the Lois Muir Netball Challenge at the Queen Elizabeth Centre. If you're going to any of Sunday's events please be patient with traffic around that area and be prepared to park and walk for a few minutes.
• Netball BOP is hosting the Lois Muir Challenge round two games at the QEYC, Sunday, March 28 from 9am with the last game on court at 3pm. Teams from the following regions will be participating: Waikato, Counties Manukau, Auckland Waitakere, North and of course our own Bay of Plenty Lois Muir Challenge team.
• International Hockey - Black Sticks Women v Argentina: Good Friday, April 2 at 2pm; and Easter Saturday, April 3at 1pm - Tauranga Hockey Centre. The Argentina Women, ranked No.2 team in the world are coming to New Zealand to play the Black Sticks Women. Don't miss out on watching one of the most dynamic hockey teams on the world circuit! Ticket details from Tauranga Hockey ph 575 0074.
• McLaren Falls: The PD teams have completed another 100 metres of lakeside track from Cherry Bay to just below the animal park. This is all new and runs through a wetland type environment. They also cleared out all the exotic trees and weeds.
• The Learning Through Discovery programme for schools is being very well received.
City Projects
• Nine parties have registered their interest to design and build the visitor services building at McLaren Falls Park. The registration submissions will be evaluated under the weighted attributes method and the top three scorers will be invited to tender for the main design and build contract.
• Resource consent has been granted to construct a playground at Tye Park (off Forrester Drive in Welcome Bay). Consent is required as the park is within the flood hazard policy zone. Construction is scheduled for next financial year.
• Construction work has started on the new storage and changing facilities at Gordon Spratt Reserve. The Storage Facility will be constructed by Letts Buildings and the Changing/Public Toilet Facility will be constructed by McMillan & Lockwood. Both facilities are due to be completed by end of June 2010.
Libraries
• Two free jazz performances have been arranged for Tauranga or Papamoa library. Marg Harper will be performing on Saturday April 3 from 10.30am till 11.30am. The Jan Baker trio will be performing at Papamoa Library Saturday, April 3 from 10.30am to 11.30am.
• Jackie Gower co-author of the $21 Challenge features regularly in regional and national newspapers, has appeared on Breakfast, Good Morning and Campbell Live. She has worked alongside some of New Zealand's most prominent financial experts and has the ability to give plain English tips to the average householder. She is speaking in Tauranga Library on Wednesday, April 21 from 12.30pm-1.30pm.
• A CV writing and interview techniques class is scheduled for Wednesday 14 April from 5.30pm-6.30pm in the Tauranga Library Learning Centre. All learning centre classes costs $4.00.
Transportation
• Golf Road: Work to install traffic signals at the intersection of Oceanbeach Road and Golf Road has started. The work is expected to take about three weeks to complete depending on weather. The work involves minor kerb and channel realignment to maintain car parks, cycle lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossing facilities and footpath reconstruction as well as installation of the traffic signals.
• Maunganui Road: Road works have started at the intersection of Maunganui Road and Concord Avenue. Traffic management will be in place and motorists should expect delays and use an alternative route if possible. As with all work of this type it is dependant on fine weather. This is the first stage of work to reconstruct the section of Maunganui Road between Concord Avenue and the Hewlett's Road flyover. Safety improvements will also be made at the intersections of Maunganui Road and Concord Avenue and Maunganui Road and Spur Avenue. The major reconstruction work will start after Easter and is expected to take about 8-10 weeks to complete.
• Wharf /Willow Streets: Work is progressing well on Wharf Street with the installation of the new sewer main. While the work is being done, Wharf Street is reduced to one lane for traffic coming from Cameron Road towards the Strand. The project involves reconstructing and resurfacing the road and installing new kerb and channelling. Additional work includes upgrading the sewer, stormwater, watermains, and some parts of the footpath.
• Kairua Road Reconstruction: Major road works are continuing on Kairua Road between number R194 and the intersection with Welcome Bay Road. The work involves some earthworks to improve bends, reconstructing and resurfacing the road, installing new kerb and channelling, and upgrading stormwater and a watermain. Some disruption to traffic can be expected at times and there will be speed restrictions in place. The work is expected to take about another seven weeks to complete.
• Beaumaris Boulevard/Sterling Gate Drive/Waihi Road Link: Construction is underway. Work vehicles are accessing the site from Waihi Road. Until the work is completed, the pedestrian access to the storm water reserve at Beaumaris Boulevard is closed. The pedestrian access between Sterling Gate Drive and Waihi Road is closed during working hours. The new road is expected to be opened in July 2010.
• Takitimu Drive: Resurfacing work is continuing between the Elizabeth Street roundabout and the Waihi Road off ramp. The work is expected to take about another week and a half to complete, depending on weather. There is a temporary speed limit in place and motorists should expect delays, particularly at peak times.
• Osprey Drive: Work to remove existing speed humps and replace them with speed cushions is continuing. There is traffic management in place so please take care when driving through the area.
• Watling Street: An additional speed cushion is to be installed. There is traffic management in place so please take care when driving through the area.
• Dickson Road: Some of the existing speed cushions are being modified. There is traffic management in place so please take care when driving through the area.
• Pyes Pa Bypass: Construction on the Pyes Pa Bypass to link SH29 through to SH36 by the Crematorium is underway. Good weather has allowed the preload material to be removed along the northern end of the bypass. Construction has started with the delivery of roading materials, and compaction and shaping of the road surface. Drainage works are also being done at the same time. The new bypass is expected to be open to traffic in 2011.
• Gravatt Road: Work to construct an additional footpath and pedestrian link to Palm Beach Plaza is to start shortly.
• Bethlehem Roundabout: Construction of the new roundabout on SH2 at Bethlehem west is continuing. Work is expected to be completed by the end of June. Traffic management and site screens are in place but only minimal delays are expected. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the work site.
• Parton Road: Work is continuing with footpath construction, kerb and channelling, installation of street lighting and construction of the road surface underway. Work is expected to be completed by late May. Top soil and grass seed is being laid beside the completed sections footpaths. Final asphalt sealing of parts of the road surface is underway.
• Local Road Resealing: The local road resealing programme is expected to be completed by mid April. Generally this work involves minimal disruption to traffic.
• Andrew Place/Shelley Street: Work to install new storm water pipes is continuing. Some minor disruption to traffic is possible.
• Vale Street: Work to reshape Vale Street between Baden Street and Landscape Road to form an overland stormwater flow path during severe storms is continuing. Reconstruction of the road is being done in 80 metre sections. Work on the first section between Baden Street and Hinewa Road is underway. Please pay attention to signs and take care when driving in the area. The culvert under Landscape Road is scheduled for construction from April 5-10. Landscape Road will be closed to traffic between Vale Street and the Balmoral Terrace intersection during this period. Alternative routes are available. All work is expected to be completed by October 2010.
• Maunganui Road Closure: Maunganui Road will be closed on Sunday 4th April from Salisbury Avenue to Pacific Avenue from 8am until 6pm for the Mount Mainstreet Blues, Food and all that Jazz event.
• Car Park Building Opening Hours - Easter Weekend 2010: The Spring Street and Elizabeth Street car parking buildings will be open on Saturday April 3 and Sunday April 4 from 8.30am to 8.30pm. Both the parking buildings will be free on these days. On Easter Monday (April 5) both the car parking buildings will be closed.
Venues & Events

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
NATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL TAURANGA Thursday, April 1 to Monday, April 5.
Visit www.jazz.org.nz for full festival programme.

Fly tower Project
The Baycourt Fly Tower project is on schedule for the theatre re-opening on April 1 for the Jazz
Festival.

Event Delivery
The wet weather venue for ANZAC Day service has been confirmed as the Tauranga Boys' College gymnasium.
Democracy

Hearing Before Commissioner - Thursday April 1 at 9am in Chamber

• Publicly Notified Application for Land Use Consent: To hear and determine a resource consent application by Eleven Maunganui Road Limited, to establish and operate a café/restaurant and retail/service shop with a shortfall in onsite car parking spaces and loading bays, signage and exceed permitted noise levels at 7, 9A-E, 11A-E and 13A-B Maunganui Road and 6 Marine Parade, Mount Maunganui. This application will be heard before Independent Commissioner David Hill.